Olympic seafront plans discussed

Major improvement plans that could see a £2m update of Weymouth seafront before the 2012 Olympics will be discussed after funding was lost.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council will reassess plans after the South West Regional Development Agency withdrew £6.6m in June.

Work includes improvements to listed Victorian shelters and street lighting.

The council said it hoped the private sector would support plans to give the Esplanade a new lease of life.

Weymouth and Portland are due to host the sailing events for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

'Budget pressures'

The meeting will take place on Tuesday to discuss whether the council and its partners, including English Heritage, are still keen to invest.

Councillors will be asked to reaffirm previous funding allocations using an estimated £948,000 available from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

It said a total of £700,000 is anticipated from the Arts Council England and English Heritage that will be added to the regeneration programme and is still waiting for more funding to be confirmed for other sources.

Councillor Mike Goodman, chairman of the management committee, said: "The debate will concentrate on making sure that our contribution makes the most of our very limited resources and that we get the best for all our visitors and local people as well as the international visitors in 2012."

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